Abstract
Bone is a mechanosensitive tissue that is able to adapt its structure, mass, and mechanical properties in response to mechanical environment. It responds even to temperate stimulation caused by small mechanical vibration. Previous studies indeed showed that the vibration with low magnitude at high frequency could prevent osteoporotic bone loss and accelerate bone formation. However, it is not fully understood how the mechanical vibration leads to the positive effects on bone maintenance. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the effects of mechanical vibration on osteoblastic cell differentiation and bone formation. Osteoblasts exposed to daily vibration upregulated alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Undifferentiated marrow cells collected from vibrated mice also showed enhanced cell differentiation and mineralization. Although the optimal parameters of vibration were not determined from these studies, our findings suggested that mechanical vibration positively regulated bone metabolism, which leads to enhancement of osteoblastic cell differentiation and osteogenic activity.
